Peter Paul D'Attoma

Peter Paul D’Attoma completed this life’s journey and joined the Communion of Saints on June 28th, 2024. He passed peacefully with his wife, Donna D’Attoma, by his side, after valiantly battling an extended illness.

Peter was born December 9th, 1946 to humble beginnings in the Italian town of Conversano.  At the age of 9, Pietro’s parents decided to embark with he and his siblings for America and a more prosperous life. On July 5th, 1956, after a two-week journey across the Atlantic as passengers aboard the Conte Biancamano, the family were greeted by the sight of Lady Liberty and the shores of their new land of opportunity.

Peter quickly embraced that opportunity, acclimating himself to American culture, language, and entrepreneurial spirit.  He did everything from participating in youth football to shining shoes while in school. He graduated from North High School and attended the University of Akron, joining the Lone Star fraternity, and ultimately earning his Master’s in Education.

He would go on to become a fixture in the Akron Public Schools, teaching at Jennings, Thornton, and Central-Hower. During those years, he also pursued his passion for basketball refereeing, becoming one of the most respected collegiate officials in the region. His love of the sport also involved thoroughly supporting Central-Hower’s basketball teams.

Additionally, Peter was extensively involved in the community, particularly the local Italian-American organizations. These included the Italian Businessmen’s Club, Northern Ohio Italian Association, Solon Italian Club, Italian American Brotherhood Club, and Le Radici. He was also a prominent member of Leadership Akron.

As much as he loved Northeast Ohio and America, Peter would always remain vigorously passionate about his homeland and love for seeing the world.  So, while maintaining his teaching career, he established Da Vinci Travel in 1982, which became his defining success. It was a premier area travel agency over three decades, until he decided to focus his efforts exclusively on customized trips to Italy in the early 2000s. His reputation as a consummate authority on Italy grew, and consequently clientele grew with it, reaching out from all points around the country.  He continued creating trips for valued clients who in many cases became good friends until his final days. This was, of course, a natural result of his deep love for Italy, the gift of travel, and bringing people the joy of experiences of a lifetime.

Peter was always a man deeply invested in his Catholic faith, growing ever deeper in it, thanks to momentous occasions such as meeting Pope Francis and others who dedicated their lives to serving the poor. He came to know many prominent members of the laity and clergy in Northeast Ohio, and attended many feasts and charity functions to honor his faith and the achievements of his contemporaries. In his later chapters, Peter became especially inspired by Saint Padre Pio, who was with him during every step of the final portion of his life journey. St. Padre Pio gave him wisdom that he lived by each day: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”

Peter was also a disciple of nature, as he loved gardening and enjoyed adding to his home’s flower beds.  He frequently biked from Akron to Cleveland and back, and was involved in multiple golf leagues, savoring the scenery as much as the game.

Perhaps the only thing to rival his love of the outdoors and traveling was his love of music. Motown and Sinatra were the soundtrack of his adolescence, and his love of musical excellence only expanded throughout his adulthood. Since the 1980s, Smooth Jazz became his favorite style, a genre he enjoyed so much that he organized and promoted themed cruises, and also got to know a number of its top performers on a first-name basis.

Peter was truly a Renaissance Man in a world of where many tend to stick with the familiar.  He would never run out of interests; just time. There are only so many hours in the day, only so many days in a lifetime, and during the time he was given, he shared as much as he could with those whom he valued above all else: family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Angelo D’Attoma; his mother, Rose D’Attoma; and his brother, Tony D’Attoma. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his sons, Christopher and Eric; his brothers, John and Michael; his sisters, Ann Chiera, Mary Meli, and Angela Springer; his step-daughter, Marissa Keglovic (Brandon Richard) and her daughters (“Papa’s favorites”) Sophia and Isla; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout Northeast Ohio and in Italy.

Friends may call 4-8 P.M. FRIDAY July 5th at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. SATURDAY July 6th at Holy Family Catholic Church, 3179 Kent Rd, Stow, OH 44224. Friends also may call at the church two hours prior to Mass. Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery on Waterloo Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Peter’s name may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Medina ( hospicewr.org/give ).